Wisconsin recall election
Live Updates from Wisconsin, where Republican Governor Scott Walker faces a historic recall election on Tuesday
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RT @MSpicuzzaWSJ: More than 206,000 Wisconsinites have already requested absentee ballots or voted absentee for the June 5 recall electi ...by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/4/2012 10:45:09 PM -

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Wisconsin's recall tests conservatives' ground game, Nick Carey reports:
A Walker victory would be highly symbolic for the right. Conservatives respect and fear the "ground game" labor unions use to get Democrats out to vote, above all in the manufacturing state of Wisconsin. So a win for Governor Scott Walker, who has maintained a single-digit lead in polls over his Democratic opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, would be seen as a major conservative victory.
But successfully marshaling a grassroots activist army in Wisconsin is about more than just bragging rights. It would also help bring in more money for conservative grassroots efforts ahead of November's presidential election.
Wisconsin's recall election is a "unique opportunity" for both sides because it is a high-profile race in a battleground state before the presidential election, said Charles Franklin, a professor of law and policy at Marquette University in Milwaukee.
Local conservative groups are doing their own thing. But national groups are pouring resources into the race. In the days running up to the election, Americans for Prosperity -- which is funded by Charles and David Koch, the billionaire brothers who own oil and gas conglomerate Koch Industries -- boosted its staff in Wisconsin to 60 from seven.
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Two polls show Walker with a lead of three and six percentage points two days before the election to recall him, Brendan O'Brien reports:
Public Policy Polling, a Democratic polling firm, said Walker was leading 50 percent to 47 percent over Democratic challenger Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in its final survey. Angus Reid polling had Walker ahead 53 percent to 47 percent. Both findings were within the margin of error so the results could be even tighter.
"If Democrats turn out in the numbers they did in 2008, Tom Barrett will win a surprise victory. If they don't, Walker will survive," Dean Debnam, president of PPP, said in a statement on the polling firms website.
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Walker faces a recall vote because of a law he championed that severely curtails the power of public sector labor unions in the state. Here are the details of the law:
* Collective bargaining is limited to the issue of wages, and wage increases are capped at the rate of inflation, with a voter referendum needed for larger increases.
* Under the law, state and local government workers must increase contributions to 5.8 percent of the cost of their pensions, or 6.55 percent of salary if they are executives, and double contributions to their health insurance premiums to 12.6 percent. This resulted in an average cut in take-home pay of about 8 percent for a large swath of union members such as teachers.
* The law prohibits employer collection of union dues and members of collective bargaining units would not be required to pay dues. Union contracts are limited to one year, and collective bargaining units would have to take annual votes to maintain certification as a union. The law requires 51 percent of the entire unit voting in favor rather than a majority of those voting, to approve certification. Unions particularly object to this provision because it is a hard barrier to clear. -
Prez: It's Election Day in Wisconsin tomorrow, and I'm standing by Tom Barrett. He'd make an outstanding governor. #wisunion #recallwalkerby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/4/2012 11:39:12 PM -
Barrett in Kenosha tonight rallying with union workers. Walker is in Milwaukee for late night campaign stop. #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/4/2012 11:46:48 PM -
Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker and his Democratic challenger Tom Barrett barnstormed the state on Monday, the day before a recall election that could remove Walker from office over a law reducing public sector union power, Brendan O'Brien reports.
Walker talked with workers at a plastics plant on Monday morning near the capital of Madison, then dashed north to Green Bay, home of the revered Packers NFL football team, and ended his day at a late night rally on the south side of the state's largest city, Milwaukee, which is generally considered to be a Democratic stronghold.
The race is a repeat of the 2010 governors' election when Milwaukee Mayor Barrett, 58, lost to Walker by five percentage points. Barrett was expected to spend much of the day in the western part of the state.
"We have to have a governor who is going to focus on jobs here and we have to have a governor who is not embattled in this criminal investigation," said Barrett on a local morning news television show, referring to a continuing investigation of Walker.
READ MORE: Candidates barnstorm the state in tight Wisconsin recall -


Voter Sam Olson, who will vote for Scott Walker, talks with canvasser Mike Kozaria (R), in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Kozaria, working for conservative group American Majority Action, gathers contact details, yard sign requests and answers to a short survey on his smartphone using a new get-out-the-vote application called Gravity -- which the group provides free to Tea Party activists -- that uploads the information to a central database. Picture taken May 25, 2012.Credit: REUTERS/Nick Carey
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RT @walkcol: Good analysis for recall watchers. How will Tuesday's voter turnout compare to 2010 and 2008? JSOnline www.jsonline.comby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 12:01:17 AM -
Obama For America calling for volunteers with text messages to get out the vote for Barrett tomorrow. #wisunions #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 12:34:47 AM -
by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 12:41:04 AM -
Sun Times says $ from Illinois making its way to Wisconsin to fund Recall campaigns. www.suntimes.comby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 12:42:35 AM -

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RT @DavidShuster: Hello Madison. Live from Wisconsin @current @jengranholm in 15 minutes. I'll talk politics of Walker investigation a ...by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 12:46:54 AM -
AP describes Barrett as "exuberant" and says he thinks race is a dead heat.
host.madison.com
#wisunion #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 1:41:25 AM -
by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 1:46:22 AM -
RT @news3jessica: Tweet that didn't send earlier today. GAB says absentee ballots likely to eclipse 2010 after all totaled. #WIrecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 1:48:59 AM -
Intrade predicts 94 percent chance Walker wins tomorrow. #wisunion #wirecall
www.intrade.comby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 1:51:18 AM -
Wisconsin will vote for the 7th time in 14 months tomorrow. And we still have Aug and Nov, making it 9 in 20 months. #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 1:58:03 AM -
200 Walker supporters at Serb Hall. #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 2:54:33 AM -
Things got testy between Walker supporters and protesters after Serb Hall rally for the governor.by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 4:07:11 AM -
Things got testy betwn Walker supporters, protesters after Serb Hall rally for gov. Police arrived. Supporters left. Protesters protested.by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 4:08:47 AM -
Things got testy betwn Walker supporters, protesters after Serb Hall rally for gov. Police arrived. Supporters left. #wisunion #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 4:09:28 AM -
"I'm here tonight to ask for your vote to move Wisconsin forward," Walker said @ Serb Hall Monday night. #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 4:10:38 AM -
Walker says he'll say no to Romney if asked to be VP. www.huffingtonpost.com #wisunion #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 4:13:45 AM -


Jesse Jackson tells local clergy to go to the high schools to get young voters. #wisunion #wirecall p.twimg.com
by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 4:24:20 AM -


Kleefisch, Walker shake hands w/ supporters after Milwaukee rally Monday night. #wisunion #wirecall p.twimg.com
by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 4:30:13 AM -
Voters out in force throughout the Milwaukee area. Some are relieved its over, while others want the fighting to stop. #wisunions #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 2:44:12 PM -
"Everybody needs to work together" starting tomorrow, said Dave, a voter in Milwaukee. #wisunions #wirecallsby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 2:46:03 PM -
"We are going to kick them in the butt" said William Temple, a Tea Party activist in full Tea Party garb at Walker's rally Monday. #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 2:49:40 PM -
Barrett says he doesn't feel ignored by the WH. www.politico.com
#wisunions #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 3:46:02 PM -
We vote a lot in Wi. www.foxnews.com #wisunions #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 3:47:36 PM -
In Whitefish Bay voting has been strong. Typically, by midday, the vote count is 300-400. Today it was 1,355 at 11:30. #wisunion #wirecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:48:25 PM -
Van drove past the Whitefish Bay Library with a massive "Stand With Walker" sign attached to it. #wisunions #wirecallsby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:49:47 PM -
Conservative radio personality in Milwaukee during the 11 o'clock hour: "This is the Super Bowl of American politics." #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:52:06 PM -
Voters are being reminded: no cell phones, no political swag at the polls. #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:53:04 PM -
Wisconsin recall voters are being reminded: no cell phones, no political swag at the polls. #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:53:28 PM -
RT @WaukeshaPatch: Voter turn out at Waukesha City Hall is about 27% right now. #WIRecallby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:53:54 PM -
Dems cry foul early into Wisconsin's Recall Election Day; Sen. Taylor demands investigation elections.wispolitics.com #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:55:52 PM -
Wisconsin loves its beer, even on day of historic recall election. Milwaukee bar offers $1 off with after voting. #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:58:06 PM -


RT @lkeapproth: Basically no line to vote at Memorial Union in Madison #wirecall @WisWatch twitpic.com
by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:58:32 PM -
RT @abauter: GAB predicts 60-65% #wirecall turnout. Clerks in key districts incl MKE, Madison & MKE suburbs (Brookfield, New Berlin, ...by obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 5:59:12 PM -
On the ground news reports say turnout is heavy in Wisconsin's recall election. Both parties say that spells victory. #wirecall #wisunionby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 6:01:57 PM -
RT @MaddowBlog: "Wild" turnout in Wisconsin - remember when they challenged voter registration parties? maddowblog.msnbc.msn.comby obrienfreelance via twitter 6/5/2012 6:02:13 PM
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